Global Fan Groups Call for FIFA President Gianni Infantinos Resignation After Failed World Cup Profit-Selling Plan
When the 2026 World Cup kicked off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, a different drama was unfolding off the pitch. On Thursday, August 1, a coalition of football fan organisations launched a petition—#InfantinoOut—urging FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, to step down.
The trigger was Infantino’s abandoned plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. On July 28, he unveiled a proposal to spin off a for‑profit arm, later dubbed FIFA Forward Enterprise, that would handle commercial rights for FIFA tournaments, including the 2026 event. The idea sparked immediate backlash from clubs, national associations and fan groups who saw it as a move that would deepen the gulf between the sport’s governing body and its supporters. Faced with mounting criticism, Infantino pulled the proposal on August 1, citing the divisions it had created.
The petition lists 40 national fan groups and three continental bodies—Football Supporters Europe, Football Supporters Africa and the Independent Supporters Council of North America. It calls for Infantino’s resignation and a sweeping overhaul of FIFA’s governance structure. The signatories argue that “the concentration of power around the FIFA Presidency, combined with opaque decision‑making, personality‑cult clientelism and zero accountability, has destroyed any remaining trust in the world governing body.” They also point to Infantino’s support for other controversial initiatives, including the failed European Super League, a proposal to hold World Cups every two years and the high ticket prices for the 2026 tournament.
The 2026 World Cup was the largest football event in history, featuring 104 matches across 16 venues. Ticket prices ranged from $60 for the most loyal fans of each of the 48 teams to several hundred dollars for premium seats. FIFA and Infantino set those prices without consulting fan groups, a decision that sparked anger and led to some tickets being sold for as little as $60. Football Supporters Europe, which serves as the liaison for fans with UEFA and advises on ticket pricing for European Championships and club finals such as the Champions League, has been particularly vocal about the lack of fan consultation.
Infantino’s leadership has come under pressure from several governing bodies. UEFA has declared it has no confidence in him. The leadership of CONCACAF (North America) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have also criticised his actions. In contrast, several FIFA member federations continue to support him. Morocco, the 2030 World Cup co‑host, Qatar—where Infantino lived before the 2022 World Cup—and Lebanon, which granted him citizenship in 2023, have publicly backed him. Saudi Arabia, the 2034 host, has not publicly endorsed Infantino, despite his close political ties to the kingdom.
The petition argues that the current debacle could never happen again if FIFA is rebuilt. It calls for greater transparency, democratic governance and accountability. FIFA has not yet responded to the petition. The organisation’s next major event will be the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, on March 18, 2027, where Infantino will seek re‑election for a fourth term.
The launch of #InfantinoOut follows a week of intense scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership. The failed sale of World Cup profits, the high ticket prices and the lack of fan consultation have all contributed to a growing perception that FIFA’s governance is out of touch with the sport’s global fan base.
In short, the petition represents a coordinated effort by fan groups worldwide to demand leadership change and structural reform within FIFA, citing the president’s recent attempts to commercialise the World Cup and the broader lack of transparency and accountability in the organisation’s decision‑making processes.
